FREE WEBINAR STARTING TODAY! “Awakening the Parent: Are You Supporting or Sabotaging Your Client’s Transformation?” by Britta Bushnell, PhD from Gold

free

***Editor’s Note: This will be the last FREEBIE post in this format. Moving forward, each freebie post will contain several different freebies – ranging from webinars, research, podcasts, classes, trainings, CERPs and private practice tips to free breastfeeding artwork, client-friendly articles, handouts, lactation resources and last but not least, tips and tricks for lactation professionals. This is not an exhaustive list, just a bit of what’s coming up!

GOLD Birth & Beyond 2020 is a brand new online conference coming up soon from our friends at GOLD Learning! This event is perfect for healthcare professionals working with families throughout the perinatal and postpartum periods. This new online conference from Gold runs from October 5 to November 30 – complete with 12 internationally renowned speakers. Presentations cover topics including disparities in care among women with disabilities, parenting the high-needs baby, perinatal mental health, and much more.

I know you’re probably asking yourself, “Where the heck is my FREEBIE?Well, to kick off Gold’s new conference on October 5 (that’s today!), Britta Bushnell, PhD will be sharing her Opening Keynote presentation “Awakening the Parent: Are You Supporting or Sabotaging Your Client’s Transformation?”

Britta Bushnell, PhD

This presentation offers an opportunity to reexamine the way we approach teaching new parents. Dr. Bushnell will highlight how we might unknowingly reinforce the mindset that experts hold the knowledge that parents need. She’ll share ways that we can instead support parents to grow into a position of being autonomous and self-guided, with a sense of inner authority. You won’t want to miss this chance to hear these insights and to gain some new tools!

This is a free event so be sure to register and access all the info! The presentation will be shared live two times (yup, you read that right, TWO times: 1600 UTC and then again at 2300 UTC). If you missed the live versions, don’t fret. As long as you register to reserve your seat, you will have full FREE access until October 30, 2020. You can reserve your free seat and read about all of the details here.

***Disclaimer: Only those registered for the entire GOLD Birth & Beyond 2020 Online Conference will receive CERPS. CERPS are not available if you are just registering and attending the free webinar, however, you will obtain a Certificate of Completion after finishing the webinar.


Do you have an idea for FREEBIE FRIDAY? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, NGO, etc. and have a FREE opportunity or item to offer to Galactablog readers, please drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration.

You can contact me here or email me at: galactablog@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Tamara Brand 
MA, MPH, IBCLC
Galactablog Founder

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FREE Webinar: “COVID-19, Delivery & The Newborn,” from Gold Learning

Freebie Alert

It’s Day #4 of a FREE FREEBIE! It’s timely, relevant and in these times, shedding light on a topic that everyone desperately wants (and needs) more information on.


Gold Learning is offering FREE access to their webinar titled, “COVID-19, Delivery and the Newborn,” by Michael Narvey, MD, FRCPC, FAAP where he discusses how to stay on top of current best practices when it comes to caring for newborns during the COVID-19 global pandemic with newborns.

 

In his presentation, Dr. Narvey delves into the practical issues around
planning for delivery and the concerns with interruption of processes such as kangaroo care, breastfeeding, and visiting. This presentation reviews current knowledge as well as the unknowns. Definitely not one to miss!

Fortunately, there’s still time to register. This webinar broadcasts live tomorrow, May 12, 2020 at 8pm UTC / 4pm EST / 1pm PST. In addition to joining the live event, you will also have 4 weeks of free access to the recording. For more information and registration details, see here.


For those that are interested in learning more about topics related to birthing and breastfeeding, Gold Learning is currently offering 2 online conferences and there’s still time to register.


do you have an idea for a freebie please shareDo you have an idea for Galactablog’s FREEBIE Week? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, clinic, hospital, non-profit, non-governmental organization, etc. and have a FREE opportunity, resource or item that you’d love offer to Galactablog readers, drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration. You can contact me here or email me at galactablog@gmail.com. 

Cheers, Tamara xx


Freebie Week Day #3: Freebies for those in HELPING PROFESSIONS including a webinar, a 15-hour training program & 3 short training courses

who doesn't love free stuff


center for adolescent studies CASWell, it’s day #3 of FREEBIES! Today is your lucky day because again, there’s a few different freebies offered including a webinar (pre-registration ends today!), 3 short online self-paced courses and a 15-hour training program for those in helping professions – all for free. So keep scrolling down to learn about each free opportunity – all offered by the Center for Adolescent Studies.


Author’s Note & Disclosure: All of today’s freebies are from the Center of Adolescent Studies (CAS). I am in no way affiliated with CAS. I am disseminating CAS’s free offerings because I believe that lactation specialists and those aspiring-to-be ARE in the helping profession and WE can benefit from what CAS has to offer. While these offerings are not directly related to lactation per say, the subjects these freebies delve into including but not limited to –  mindfulness, compassion, providing trauma-informed care, counseling skills, working with teens and vulnerable populations and the importance of self-care are vital skills that will only make us better, stronger, more compassionate, knowledgeable and resilient lactation specialists (and those aspiring-to-be).  So let’s get to it!


sam himelstein

Sam Himelstein, Ph.D. & Licensed Psychologist

To the best of my knowledge, all courses, webinars and training programs are taught by Sam Himelstein, Ph.D. & Licensed Psychologist.

First up, CAS is broadcasting a free webinar titled, “Compassion as a Resilience Tool for Helping Professionals in Trying Times.” Last day to pre-register is TODAY – Thursday, May 7, 2020! So if you’re interested, hurry up and register here. It goes live tomorrow, Friday, May 8, 2020 at 10:30AM PST (USA & Canada). If you miss the live version, don’t sweat it, as long as you’re registered, a replay will be sent out to you.


Second up, a free 15-hour completely online and self-paced course titled, “Resilience and Self-Care Basics for Helping Professionals.” For more details and to register, see here.


And last but not least, 3 more FREE completely online and self-paced courses. Just click the hyperlinked title for more information and to register.


***Disclaimer: Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) are offered for the free online courses, training programs and webinars offered from the Center for Adolescent Studies (CAS). However, as of the date of this post, they are NOT lactation-related CERPs, instead they are CEUs for psychologists, social workers and other types of healthcare professionals. You can read more about the CE details here. I am in no way affiliated with the CAS, so any questions or concerns, please contact them directly.


do you have an idea for a freebie please shareDo you have an idea for Galactablog’s FREEBIE Week? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, clinic, hospital, non-profit, non-governmental organization, etc. and have a FREE opportunity, resource or item that you’d love offer to Galactablog readers, drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration. You can contact me here or email me at galactablog@gmail.com. 

Cheers, Tamara xx

 

Lots of Breastfeeding Freebies Today Brought to You by Cindy & Jana! A COVID-19 Infographic, an Ebook for your Clients & 2 Online Birth & Breastfeeding Classes

freebies freebie friday

Whew! That title is a mouth full. So many wonderful FREEBIES today courtesy of Cindy Leclerc, RN IBCLC and Jana Stockham, RN IBCLC (also known as Cindy and Jana). I’m not even sure where to start!


Since we’re still living (and many still in lockdown) in the COVID-19 era, it makes sense to start with the most pressing freebie first. Cindy and Jana have made a fantastic yet simple infographic that answers the most common breastfeeding and COVID-19 answers your clients may be asking you. You can download it for free here.

Infographic Created By Cindy & Jana (2020)

Feel free to print, share and distribute widely, just make sure you give proper credit where it’s due and don’t make any alterations without explicit permission from Cindy and Jana.

5 crucial ways to preparing for breastfeeding nowNext up, how about grabbing a free Ebook written by Cindy and Jana while you’re already here. It’s titled, “5 Crucial Ways to Prepare for Breastfeeding Now.” It’s a helpful book for both new and expecting parents and for some, could be an invaluable tool. We all know that for our clients, it’s never too early to start learning about breastfeeding – wherever they are in their journey. So why not share it with them?


Last but not least, Cindy and Jana have made not 1 but 2 of their online courses FREE! That’s right, both are absolutely free (for a limited time).  The first is, “Healing & Recovery from Birth: Avoiding Infection, Complications & Pain,” and the second  is a 3 part mini-series titled, “Getting Ready to Breastfeeding: What women wished they had known ahead of time.” Just click on the name of the course you’re interested in (or both of them), enroll and you’re all set to go!

When I was first discussing Cindy and Jana’s online birth and breastfeeding courses with them, the first question that popped into my mind was, “Why are they making these courses free? And why now?” They passionately explained their reasoning and why particularly, at this time:

We have seen firsthand how health care provider contact is now limited and we want to help. During this difficult time, there is more need than ever for research-based information for new and expectant moms. We are trying our best to keep up with the need and are pleased to now offer the following resources for FREE. We want to make sure no new mother misses the information she will need.

~Cindy and Jana

Cindy and Jana headshot

Cindy Leclerc, RN IBCLC & Jana Stockham, RN IBCLC


Want to get to know more about  Cindy and Jana? It’s pretty hard not to find them, they are available on almost every single social media platform there is. Don’t be shy – reach out to them, introduce yourself, say hello and if you so desire, thank them for their generous freebies.


Do you have an idea for Galactablog’s FREEBIE Week? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, clinic, hospital, non-profit, non-governmental organization, etc. and have a FREE opportunity, resource or item that you’d love offer to Galactablog readers, drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration. You can contact me here or email me at galactablog@gmail.com. 

Cheers, Tamara xx

***Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Cindy and Jana. This means, at no additional cost to you, if you decide to sign-up for one of Cindy and Jana’s paid online courses (using my affiliate link), then I am financially compensated. I receive no financial compensation from any of the free resources Cindy and Jana generously provide.

FREEBIE FRIDAY: “Breastfeeding With Ease: The Impact of Infant Reflex Emergence and Integration” by Bryna Sampey, IBCLC from Gold Lactation

Freebie Friday gold lactation

It’s that GOLDEN time again! GOLD Lactation’s 2020 online conference is kicking off on March 30, 2020 with a FREE Opening Keynote webinar. The esteemed Bryna Sampey, IBCLC will be presenting, “Breastfeeding With Ease: The Impact of Infant Reflex Emergence and Integration” live.

Bryna Sampey IBCLC

If you can’t make the live presentation, don’t fret. A recording will also be available to those who register and you’ll be given 4 weeks of free access. Hurry up and reserve your free seat here to access the live event and the recording.

If you just can’t get enough of anything lactation-related or are a health professional who would like to hone their lactation knowledge and skills (or you just need to grab a few CERPs), then check out Gold Lactation’s 2020 Online conference.

The full conference includes 32.5 hours of accredited education, with presentations covering a wide variety of key topics in lactation. Delegates will have full access to the conference from March 30 – June 29, 2020.

If that’s not enough to keep you busy while self-isolating and/or working from home, Gold also has 2 add-on lectures packs which include presentations that take a close look at complex medical issues in breastfeeding parents and infants. Delegates can also access brand new interactive sessions, giving them extended opportunities to tap into the knowledge and expertise of GOLD Speakers.

Enjoy this golden opportunity and happy learning! xx

Do you have an idea for FREEBIE FRIDAY? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, NGO, etc. and have a FREE opportunity or item to offer to Galactablog readers, please drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration.

You can contact me here or email me at: galactablog@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Tamara xx

Freebie Friday: 1 FREE L-CERP From Gold Lactation: “Promoting Self-Management of Breast & Nipple Pain During Breastfeeding” by Dr. Ruth Lucas

Freebie Friday

Looking for a FREE CERP for IBCLC certification or recertification? Or just looking to expand your lactation knowledge base? Well, either way, we’ve got you covered thanks to Gold Lactation.

Wondering what this presentation is all about? Dr. Ruth Lucas PhD, RLC, CLS will be speaking on: “Promoting Self-Management of Breast and Nipple Pain During Breastfeeding.” So mark your calendars for Monday, September 9, 2019. You can reserve your FREE seat here.  Sign-up is free and you’ll be given free viewing access for 4 weeks.

Thanks for the freebie Gold Lactation!

Do you have an idea for FREEBIE FRIDAY? Don’t be shy! Please do share – I promise to give you full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, NGO, etc. and have a FREE opportunity or item to offer to Galactablog readers, please drop me a line. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration.

You can contact me here or email me at: galactablog@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Freebie Friday: Free Presentation, “Does Breastfeeding Protect Maternal Mental Health? The Role of Oxytocin & Stress” by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett from Gold Lactation


Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
PhD, IBCLC, FAPA

Gold Lactation is back with another freebie! This time it’s a free keynote presentation marking the beginning of its 2019 Gold Lactation Online Conference.

This year, the title of the Gold’s keynote presentation is:
“Does Breastfeeding Protect Maternal Mental Health? The Role of Oxytocin & Stress” by the esteemed Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, FAPA.

Best of all, this presentation is FREE! You can access the recording until April 19, 2019 (or until June 3, 2019 if you’re registered for Gold’s Conference). Sign up here for instant access to Kathleen’s talk.


FYI: CERPS are ONLY provided if you’re registered for Gold’s full 2019 Lactation Conference. If you’re not, you still have access to this FREE keynote presentation and will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance at no cost.


Do you have an idea for FREEBIE FRIDAY? Don’t be shy! Share it with Galactablog – you’ll be given full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, NGO, etc. and have a FREE opportunity or item to offer Galactablog readers, let us know. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration.

You can contact us here or at galactablog@gmail.com


Tuesday’s Tips: Helpful Counseling Tips for Medications, Herbs & Galactagogues from Dr. Frank Nice


As a lactation specialist or one aspiring-to-be, you may find yourself getting asked questions regarding the safety of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by your breastfeeding clients. Or maybe it’s not medications, but the safety of herbs or the use of Galactagogues.


As lactation professionals (and those aspiring to be), it’s essential we stay within the scope of our training and certification. Diagnosing and prescribing prescription and OTC medications, herbs and galactagogues are outside the scope of practice for IBCLCs (and other lactation specialists) – unless of course, you’re also a licensed health care provider who has the ability to diagnose and prescribe medication. What we CAN do as lactation specialists is to counsel our breastfeeding clients and provide them with evidence-based resources so that they can make an informed decision that is best for themselves and their family.


In the Middle East where I used to live and practice, it was not common practice to question your physician’s recommendations, ask questions, or even to begin an open dialogue about potential alternatives, risks and benefits, etc. To question your doctor was a big no-no and it was something that just wasn’t done.

But because my client’s (and their infant’s) health and well-being come first, I encouraged every single one to bring every single evidence-based resources to their health care provider – to ask questions, demand answers and to begin an open dialogue. Yes, I admit I probably committed a few cultural faux pas, but it was worth it.

I found this not only enabled those I worked with to make informed decisions that worked best for them and their families, but it EMPOWERED them as well. The cherry on top was that it also educated health care professionals on lactation issues, which was often desperately lacking. Due to this approach, I was able to establish working relationships with local health care providers and to network. It was a win-win.


Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP

You may be wondering where to start when counseling your breastfeeding families on prescription and OTC drugs, herbs and galactagogues. How do you go about it? What approach would you take? What questions should you be asking and answering? Well, thanks for Dr. Frank Nice over at Nice Breastfeeding, he’s got all of this covered.

He has shared a wealth of information in order to help you help your breastfeeding families. Best of all, it’s all FREE and immediately accessble – just click here for practical, relevant counseling tips that you can begin applying with soon as the situation arises.

This link is divided into 3 sections: 1) About Mom, 2) About Baby, 3) Useful PDFs (on several topics including but not limited to Domperidone, Galactalogues and Herbs, and Recreational Drugs). These are free, downloadable and are perfect resources to share with your breastfeeding families.

And don’t forget to encourage your clients to share these handouts with their health care providers – not only will this create an open dialogue of how to best approach their situation and meet their needs, but it will also help to educate health care providers as well.

There is also a helpful ‘Patient Resources’ section with  Useful Links that you can share with your expecting and breastfeeding clients. Again, these are free!


Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP,  founder of Nice Breastfeeding, has over 40+ experience specializing in medications and  breastfeeding. He has also authored 2 books: Nonprescription Drugs for the Breastfeeding Mother, 2nd Edition (2011) and The Galactogogue Recipe Book (2017).


Free Lactation & Drug Safety Resource List

Free Lactation & Drug Safety Resource List


Author’s Note:  This post used to be a static page. I turned it into a blog post to make it more accessible and easier to search. Providing lactation support can be difficult and trying at times – particularly when it comes to medications/herbs and lactation safety and compatibility. There are several great lactation/drug compatibility resources and databases out there but many don’t know where to search or how to access. Compiling all of the evidenced-based resources into one space, so it can be more accessible by not just lactation consultants and those aspiring to be, but also parents and health professionals was the ultimate reason behind the creation of this post.


Do your clients ever call you wondering if a particular medication is compatible with breastfeeding? Many times nursing mothers are told to “pump and dump” or wean by their physicians when in fact, it’s unnecessary. Other times, it’s assumed if a medication is over-the-counter or an herb, it’s completely safe. This is not always the case.


Check below for the most widely used evidence-based resources in order to evaluate drug risk and safety during lactation. This list is arranged by alphabetical order and is by no means exhaustive, so if you’ve found another database or resource helpful, let me know so I can add it.


Questions for lactation professionals and nursing mothers to consider when evaluating risk levels of drugs, herbs, chemicals, etc. during lactation:

1) Will the drug, etc. affect my baby?
2) Will the drug, etc. affect lactation?
3) What are the risks of weaning?
4) What are the options?

For tips on how to counsel your breastfeeding clients on medications, galactagogues and herbs, see these tips by Dr. Frank J. Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP.


Electronic Databases 


Breastfeeding Network –  Provides FREE Fact Sheets on a wide array of drugs, medical procedures and health conditions and compatibility with breastfeeding available here. These are great to share with your clients (and to encourage them to print them out and discuss safety concerns or potential alternatives with their health care provider). Also provides a detailed description of an ‘Introduction to the Safety of Drugs Passing Through Breastmilk’ here. For common FAQs concerning breastfeeding and generic medications, see here. Also contains general ‘Information on Breastfeeding’here, ‘Thinking about Breastfeeding’ here, ‘Breastfeeding and Perinatal Mental Health’ here and common ‘Questions about your Baby’here.

TIP: when using drug search databases: Since drug names can differ by country and even more so if it’s a generic vs. name brand drug, if the drug you are searching does not show up in the database search engine, then google that particular drug for the active ingredient and search by that instead.

e-lactancia – Compiled by pediatricians affiliated with APILAM. Uses risk levels 0 (no risk) -3 (very high risk). Covers “medical prescriptions, phytotherapy (plants), homeopathy and other alternative products, cosmetic and medical procedures, contaminants, maternal and infant diseases and more.” For common FAQs concerning lactation and medications, see here. Very easy to use and understand. A great resource to share with families so they can look up their own medications. Available in English and Spanish.

Infant Risk Center – Researched and compiled by Dr. Thomas Hale, PhD and author of the renowned and widely used medical lactation risk and reference guide, ‘Hale’s Medications and Mothers’ Milk.’ This reference guide is updated every 2 years, with the most recent edition published in 2017 and a new edition coming out in 2019). This resource uses lactation risk categories 1 (safest) – 5 (contraindicated). It covers prescription medications, chemicals, herbals, vitamins and radioisotopes/radiocontrast agents. This reference guide is also affiliated with the Infant Risk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. A detailed description of ‘Drug Entry Into Human Milk’ is available here. If you have a question regarding a particular drug, you can call a free helpline at (806) 352 – 2519.

Medications & Mother’s Milk is an electronic database also established by Dr. Hale. Annual subscriptions are available at varied prices for individuals and groups/institutions. Mobile apps are also available for both androids and iOS – one is for healthcare professionals ($9.99) and the other is a simplified version for parents ($3.99). You can view options here.

LactMed – Sponsored by the National Institute for Health (NIH)’s US National Library of Medicine TOXNET Toxicology Data Network. It provides peer-reviewed, fully referenced, evidence-based resources. Users can look up lactation risk of both drugs and chemicals. This site is highly medicalized and may be too versed in “medical speak” for the average consumer to fully understand. LactMed also offers a mobile free app for both android and iOS.

MotherRisk – Sponsored by The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. It provides evidence-based information about the compatibility of prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal products, chemicals, radiation, chronic diseases, infections, occupational, environmental, and other exposures during pregnancy and lactation. Also covers general FAQs about medications and lactation. Various brochures are available here. Offers a FREE MotherRisk Hotline: 1-877-439-2744, which is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 12pm and 1 to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.


Additional Drug Safety & Lactation Resources


Breastfeeding &  Human Lactation Study Center (which is a part of the Division of Neonatology at University of Rochester Medical Center’s Golisano Children’s Hospital) under the direction of Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D. Healthcare professionals can call (585) 275-0088 at no cost for information on drug risk and compatibility and to consult on difficult breastfeeding issues. Note: This hotline is for healthcare professionals ONLY, not for parents or your breastfeeding clients. For more information, see here. See here for a breastfeeding site geared specifically toward your breastfeeding clients and families.

Cindy Curtis, RNC, IBCLC, CCE, CD of Breastfeeding Online has compiled a comprehensive and beautifully organized list of lactation risk and compatibility with direct links to articles on breastfeeding and alcohol, herbals, epidurals, antidepressants, social drugs, cigarettes, prescription and non-prescription drugs and more. This is an accessible and quite handy resource to share with your breastfeeding clients or lactation specialists-in-training.

Frank J. Nice, RPH, DPA, CPHP of Nice Breastfeeding has written several books on medications and compatibility with breastfeeding: ‘Nonprescription Drugs for the Breastfeeding Mother’ (2017) here. ‘Recreational Drugs and Drugs Used to Treat Addicted Mothers: Impact on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding’ (2016) available here. ‘The Galactagogue Recipe Book’ (2017) which discusses dosage, uses, and cautions of galactogogues here. There are free downloadable pdfs on a wide array of lactation and drug risk categories including herbs and galactagogues, recreational drug use and Domperidone are available hereFree patient resources with helpful links are available here. You can find information for healthcare providers on how to counsel breastfeeding mothers who have drug-related questions here.

International Breastfeeding Centre established by Dr. Jack Newman, MD, IBCLC provides a general overview of maternal medications and breastfeeding in a Q&A blog post format, addressing general FAQs, whether or not to continue breastfeeding, how drugs get into breast milk and lactation compatibility with specific medications here. If you have a question about a particular drug’s compatibility with breastfeeding (or you’re dealing with a difficult breastfeeding case in general and would like some guidance and feedback), Dr. Newman answers emails from Lactation Specialists at no charge here. Information sheets on a wide array of lactation topics are available here, many of which are translated into different languages here.

Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC of Kellymom has compiled lists of lactation risk databases in English and other languages, common FAQs on specific drugs, treatments and medical procedures, lactation risk resources and a detailed list of reference links here.This is an accessible, easy to understand resource to share with your breastfeeding clients.

La Leche League International (LLLI) has also published some articles and FAQ fact sheets on medications and breastfeeding. It also has a comprehensive resource of hyperlinked articles addressing breastfeeding with maternal illness, conditions, diseases and  if medications/treatments are compatible. LLLI’s site, including it’s articles (typically written  for mothers and parents by mothers (who are also breastfeeding counselors), are fantastic reat resources to share with nursing mothers and families as they are easily accessible, usually short and sweet, and written for an audience without a medical background. Just click on the title(s) below:

Wendy Jones, BSc, MSc, PhD, MRPharmS of Breastfeeding and Medication.This comprehensive site includes free downloadable Fact Sheets, evidence-based useful links on medication and breastfeeding, E-Learning Packages/Training Packs, aimed at GPs (latest cost was £40.00), which can be purchased here. She has also authored the books, “Breastfeeding and Medication.” (2018) and “Why Mothers’ Medication Matters” (2017).


Herbs & Breastfeeding


Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC of kellymom.com has created a simple, accessible resource list of specific herbals and natural treatment and compatibility with lactation here. For information on marijuana and breastfeeding, see here. These are both fantastic, easy to read and understand resources to share with your breastfeeding clients.

Sheila Humphrey, BSc, RN, IBCLC has written the ‘The Nursing Mother’s Herbal’ (2003) available here, which discusses the effects of a wide array of herbs, dietary supplements and natural remedies on lactation and lactation-related maladies such as mastitis, plugged ducts, thrush and more. Her book is organized into Herb Safety Categories A (no contraindications) – E (Avoid. Toxic plant with no justifiable medical use). See here for a more thorough description of the Herb Safety Categories and see here for a review of her book from LLLI.


This list is by no means exhaustive. If you have a evidence-based resource on drug safety and lactation that you recommend and it’s not included in the list, then please, send me a message with a description and relevant info so that I can include it. Thanks a bunch, xx

Freebie Friday: FREE Podcast on “Marijuana & Breastfeeding”


Yup, it’s the end of the week already. That means it’s time for FREEBIE FRIDAY! This week’s freebie is a FREE Podcast on “Marijuana and Breastfeeding”
by Anne Eglash MD, IBCLC and Karen Bodnar MD, IBCLC.


From the Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding & Lactation Education (IABLE) website:

“Join us to learn about the 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics statement on marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Dr. Bodnar summarizes the major points in the AAP’s 2018 statement on marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Learn the latest recommendations on how to counsel families regarding perinatal marijuana use!”

It was originally recorded in September 2018, but don’t worry, it’s still available as a podcast for free. Just click here to listen to it.

Quick tip: When you click on the link to view the Podcast, check out the “Programs” header on the left side of the site. You’ll find lots more FREE lactation resources including Podcasts, Videos, Breastfeeding Handouts, Breastfeeding Education for Healthcare Providers, Clinical
Questions for the Week, Conferences and more.

Happy listening (and learning). Oh, Happy Friday too!


Do you have an idea for FREEBIE FRIDAY? Don’t be shy! Share it with Galactablog – you will be given full credit. If you’re a company, private practice, NGO, etc. and have a FREE opportunity or item to offer to Galactablog readers, let us know. As long as you are WHO Code Compliant, you’ll be given full consideration. You can contact us here or email: galactablog@gmail.com.